Charge coupled device

ABSTRACT

A charge coupled device and a manufacturing method therefor are provided. The charge coupled device has a transfer electrode portion having a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode having an end portion partially overlapping an end portion of the first gate electrode, and a third gate electrode having one end portion partially overlapping the other end portion of the first gate electrode and the other end portion thereof partially overlapping the other end portion of the second gate electrode. The charge coupled device also has a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under the first, second and third gate electrodes, which includes a first potential area formed in the semiconductor substrate under the second gate electrode and a second potential area formed in the semiconductor substrate under the third gate electrode. The charge coupled device further has a clock portion which includes a first clock terminal connected to the first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to the second gate electrode. This charge coupled device may prevent unnecessary local potential barriers or wells produced by a misalignment, and thus may provide increased charge transfer efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and a manufacturing method therefor, and more particularly, to a charge coupled device which enables charge transfer and a manufacturing method therefor.

A charge coupled device (CCD), as a kind of charge transfer device, is a dynamic device which transfers charge via a predetermined path according to clock pulses applied to a gate electrode. The CCD is constituted of metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors of which the gates are connected to one another in series.

The CCD having the characteristic of charge transfer via a predetermined path is widely used as an image device which is combined with a group of photo-diodes arranged in parallel to the CCD in order to sense an optical signal. The CCD also finds its use in various fields of analog and digital signal processing, using its ability of charge accumulation and transfer.

The first CCD suggested by Bell and Smith in 1969 includes an insulation layer and gate electrodes arranged to constitute a MOS capacitor on a semiconductor substrate. This simple planar arrangement of gate electrodes makes it difficult to control the shapes of a potential well under the gate electrodes. Therefore, a structure has been suggested in which a gate electrodes are isolated from one another while being partially overlapped with each other. The structure which has been most widely used is composed of a plurality of gate electrodes formed on a semiconductor substrate having insulation layers formed therebetween, and charge transfer areas formed under the gate electrodes.

Charge-coupled devices are divided into a pseudo 2-phase CCD, a 3-phase CCD, and a 4-phase CCD according to a driving method, and the structural configurations of the CCDs are modified in accordance with their driving methods. Especially, the pseudo 2-phase CCD uses simple driving pulses despite its low capacity of charge transfer as compared with other configurations, thus it is widely used as a horizontal charge transfer device of a CCD-type image device requiring high speed operation.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional charge coupled device.

The conventional charge coupled device has first gate electrodes 16 spaced from one another by a predetermined distance, second gate electrodes 18 positioned between each first gate electrode 16, and potential areas 14 formed under the second gate electrodes 18. A first clock terminal φ1 is connected to a first gate electrode 16 and a second gate electrode 18 which form a unit transfer group, and a second clock terminal φ2 is connected to a first gate electrode 16 and a second gate electrode 18 which form another unit transfer group.

The potential areas 14 are formed by ion implantation using the first gate electrodes 16 as a mask, and thus are aligned with the first gate electrodes 16. In addition, the potential areas 14 form potential wells in a charge transferring direction.

Mutually opposite clock signals are applied to the first and second clock terminals φ1 and φ2.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a semiconductor substrate, reference numeral 12 denotes a buried channel for a buried CCD, and reference numeral 20 denotes an interlayer insulation layer.

FIG. 2 is a potential distribution diagram explaining the migration of charge of the charge coupled device of FIG. 1.

Charge stored in a potential well in the left side of FIG. 2 migrates to the right when a clock pulse is applied to the first and second clock terminals φ1 and φ2. In FIG. 2, an arrow indicates the direction of charge transfer.

The aforementioned pseudo 2-phase CCD of FIG. 1 has limits in reducing the length of charge transfer groups due to the application of a single clock pulse to two gate electrodes. That is, a reduction in the length of a unit gate electrode is limited due to resolution limitation during photolithography.

When as many transfer groups as possible are needed in an area of a given unit length as in a horizontal charge coupled device of a CCD-type image device, the above limits emerge as a serious problem. To avoid this problem, a method has been suggested in which a single gate electrode is used as a unit transfer group by forming a potential area below only half the area of each gate electrode, as shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view for explaining another conventional charge coupled device.

The charge coupled device of FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. 2 in terms of the arrangement of the first and second gate electrodes 16 and 18. However, a potential area 15 is formed under each of the first and second gate electrodes 16 and 18. Furthermore, a single gate electrode is connected to each of the clock terminals φ1 and φ2.

Therefore, according to the charge coupled device of FIG. 3, the size of the area reserved for the charge coupled device can be reduced by at least half of the area of the charge coupled device of FIG. 1. That is, assuming that the sizes of horizontal charge transfer devices of a CCD-type image device are the same, the case of FIG. 3 can secure twice as many transfer groups as compared with the case of FIG. 1.

Meanwhile, in the case of the charge coupled device of FIG. 3, in order to form the potential area 15, ion implantation should be performed after an ion implantation mask is formed using photolithography. In this case, it is impossible to align each potential area 15 with each of the gate electrodes 16 and 18. Thus, there is a likelihood that an unnecessary local potential barrier or well is formed due to the misalignment of a potential area and a gate electrode at a gate electrode boundary, thereby lowering charge transfer efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a charge coupled device in which a potential area is formed to be aligned with a gate electrode and the area occupied by a unit transfer group is reduced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing the above charge coupled device.

To achieve the above object, there is provided a charge coupled device comprising: a transfer electrode portion having a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode having an end portion partially overlapping an end portion of the first gate electrode, and a third gate electrode having one end portion partially overlapping the other end portion of the first gate electrode and the other end portion thereof partially overlapping the other end portion of the second gate electrode; a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under the first to third gate electrodes, and having a first potential area partially formed in the semiconductor substrate under the second gate electrode and a second potential area formed in the semiconductor substrate under the third gate electrode; and a clock portion having a first clock terminal simultaneously connected to the first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to the second gate electrode.

It is preferable that the length of the second gate electrode is equal to the sum of the lengths of the first and third gate electrodes.

It is preferable that the size of the first potential area is the same as that of the second potential area.

It is preferable that an end portion of the first potential area is aligned with an end portion of the first gate electrode, and the end portions of the second potential area are aligned with end portions of the first and second gate electrodes.

To achieve another object, there is provided a method for manufacturing a charge coupled device comprising the steps of: (a) forming a gate insulation layer on the overall surface of a semiconductor substrate; (b) forming a first gate electrode on the resultant structure having the gate insulation layer formed thereon; (c) coating the surface of the first gate electrode with a first insulation layer; (d) forming a photoresist pattern on the resultant structure including the first insulation layer, for exposing a portion of the first gate electrode and an area reserved for the formation of a second gate electrode; (e) forming a first potential area by implanting impurity ions, using the photoresist pattern as an ion implantation mask; (f) forming the second gate electrode on the area reserved for forming the second gate electrode so that an end portion thereof partially overlapping an end portion of the first gate electrode; (g) coating the surface of the second gate electrode with a second insulation layer; (h) forming a second potential area in the semiconductor substrate for forming the third gate electrode therein by implanting impurity ions, using the first and second gate electrodes as an ion implantation mask; (i) forming a third gate electrode on the area reserved for forming the third gate electrode so that an end portion thereof overlaps the other end portion of the first gate electrode and an end portion thereof partially overlaps the other end portion of the second gate electrode; and (j) connecting the first and third gate electrodes to a first clock terminal, and connecting the third gate electrode to a second clock terminal.

It is preferable the size of the first potential area is the same as that of the second potential area.

It is preferable that the second potential area is formed of impurity ions of the same type and concentration as that of impurity ions of the first potential area.

It is preferable to add the step of forming a buried channel layer near the surface of the semiconductor substrate, before the step (a).

Therefore, according to the charge coupled device and the manufacturing method therefor, the area occupied by a unit transfer group can be reduced and a potential area is formed to be aligned with a gate electrode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional charge coupled device;

FIG. 2 is a potential distribution view explaining the migration of charge of the charge coupled device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another conventional charge coupled device;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a charge coupled device manufactured using the method of the present invention; and

FIGS. 5A to 5G are sectional views of the steps for manufacturing a charge coupled device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A charge coupled device shown in FIG. 4 has a transfer electrode portion, a charge transfer portion, and a clock portion.

Transfer Electrode Portion

The transfer electrode portion has a plurality of first gate electrodes 36, a plurality of second gate electrodes 46 each having an end portion partially overlapping one end portion of each first gate electrode 36, and a plurality of third gate electrodes 54 having one end portion partially overlapping the other end portion of each first gate electrode 36 and the other end portion partially overlapping the other end portion of each second gate electrode 46.

Charge Transfer Portion

The charge transfer portion has a plurality of first potential areas 44 formed in a semiconductor substrate under the second gate electrode 46, and a plurality of second potential areas 52 formed in the semiconductor substrate under the third gate electrode 54.

Clock Portion

The clock portion has a plurality of first clock terminals φ1 simultaneously connected to each first and third gate electrode 36 and 54, and a plurality of second clock terminals φ2 connected to each second gate electrode 46.

The length of each second gate electrode 46 is equal to the sum of the lengths of the first and third gate electrodes 36 and 54, and the configuration and size of each first potential area 44 is the same as that of each second potential area 52.

In addition, an end portion of each first potential area 44 is aligned with an end portion of each first gate electrode 36, and the second potential area 52 are aligned with the first gate electrodes 36 and the second gate electrode 46.

The first and second potential areas 44 and 52 form a potential well in a charge transferring direction, and mutually opposite clock signals are applied to the first and second clock terminals φ1 and φ2.

According to the charge coupled device of the present invention, since the potential areas are aligned with the gate electrodes, reduction of charge efficiency due to the formation of an unnecessary local potential barrier or well is prevented.

The portions of FIG. 4 which were not described will be described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5G.

FIG. 5A illustrates the step of forming a buried channel layer 32 in a semiconductor substrate 30. The buried channel layer 32 is formed by implanting N-type ions into the overall surface of a P-type semiconductor substrate 30.

Here, the buried channel layer 32 is formed as a path for the migration of charge. A charge coupled device having the buried channel layer 32 near the surface of the semiconductor substrate 30 as shown in FIG. 5A is referred to as a buried CCD (BCCD), whereas a charge coupled device having no buried channel layer is referred to as a surface CCD (SCCD).

Though a CCD having the buried channel layer 32 is described in this embodiment, the effects of the present invention can be achieved without it.

FIG. 5B illustrates the step of forming the first gate electrodes 36 wherein, a gate insulation layer 34 is formed by growing, for example, silicon dioxide, on the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate 30 having the buried channel layer 32 formed therein. A first conductive material layer (not shown) of, for example, polysilicon, which will be the first gate electrodes 36, is formed on the overall surface of the gate insulation layer 34. Then, the first gate electrodes 36 are formed to be spaced from each other by a predetermined distance by performing a photolithography on the conductive material layer.

FIG. 5C illustrates the step of forming the first gate insulation layers 38 wherein, the first gate insulation layers 38 are formed of silicon dioxide by exposing the surfaces of the first gate electrodes 36 to oxygen atmosphere. Here, the first insulation layers 38 entirely cover the first gate electrodes 36.

FIG. 5D illustrates the step of forming the first potential areas 44 wherein, photoresist patterns 40 are formed to expose a portion of the first gate electrodes 36 and areas for forming second gate electrodes by coating and developing a photoresist film on the overall resultant structure. Then, the first potential areas 44 are formed in a portion of an area reserved for the second gate electrodes by implanting impurity ions 42, using the photoresist patterns 40 as an ion implantation mask.

Here, the photoresist patterns 40 are formed to expose the right end portions of the first gate electrodes 36 and the left portions of the areas in which the second gate electrodes will be formed. Therefore, the first potential areas 44 are formed so that their left end portions are aligned with the first gate electrodes 36, and their right end portions are aligned with the photoresist patterns 40.

In addition, the impurity ions 42 are P-type ions when the buried channel layer 32 is N-type.

FIG. 5E illustrates the step of forming the second gate electrodes 46 wherein the photoresist pattern 40 of FIG. 5D is removed, and a second conductive material layer (not shown) of, for example, polysilicon, which will be the second gate electrodes 46, is formed on the overall surface of the resultant structure. Then, the second gate electrodes 46 are formed by patterning the second conductive layer, and second insulation layers 48 are formed on the surfaces of the second gate electrodes 46.

The second gate electrodes 46 are formed so that their left end portions partially overlap the right end portions of the first gate electrodes 36, and their right end portions are positioned near the third gate electrode areas.

Here, second insulation layers 48 are formed in the same manner as that for the first insulation layers 38.

FIG. 5F illustrates the step of forming the second potential areas 52 wherein, the second potential areas 52 are formed on the semiconductor substrate of an area reserved for the third gate electrodes by implanting, for example, P-type impurity ions 50 into the overall surface of the semiconductor substrate 30 having the first and second gate electrodes 36 and 46 formed therein.

Here, the second potential areas 52 should be identical to the first potential areas 44 in terms of shape and size, and formed to have the same impurity ions at the same concentration as that of the first potential area 44.

In addition, the second potential areas 52 are formed so that their right end portions are aligned with the left end portions of the first gate electrodes 36, and their left end portions are aligned with the right end portions of the second gate electrodes 46.

FIG. 5G illustrates the step of forming the third gate electrodes 54 wherein, a third conductive material layer (not shown), which will be the third gate electrodes 54, is formed by depositing, for example, polysilicon on the overall surface of the resultant structure. Then, the third gate electrodes 54 are formed on the semiconductor substrate of an area reserved for the third gate electrodes by patterning the third conductive material layer. A third insulation layer (not shown) is formed on the surface of the third gate electrodes 54, and then an insulation layer 60 is formed on the overall surface of the resultant structure.

The third gate electrodes 54 are formed so that their right end portions partially overlap the left end portions of the first gate electrodes 36, and their left end portions partially overlap the right end portions of the second gate electrode 46.

Here, the third insulation layer (not shown) is formed in the same manner as that for the first and second insulation layers 38 and 48 of FIG. 5E.

The first and third gate electrodes 36 and 54 are connected to the first clock terminal φ1, thus forming a unit transfer group, and the second gate electrode 46 is connected to the second clock terminal φ2, thus forming another unit transfer group. Charge accumulated in the buried channel layer 32 under the gate electrodes 36, 46, and 54 is transferred in a predetermined direction according to clock pulses applied to the first and second clock terminals φ1 and φ2.

Though a preferred embodiment using electrons as a charge carrier has been described with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5G (for example, the first conductive type and the second conductive type were defined as P and N, respectively), anyone skilled in the art will know that impurity ions of the conductive type opposite to that described should be used when holes are used as a charge carrier. In addition, the gate insulation layer formation step and the impurity-ion implantation step for forming a potential area may be reversed, if necessary, with the same effects.

Therefore, according to the charge coupled device and manufacturing method therefor, the area occupied by a unit transfer group can be reduced and a potential area can be accurately aligned with a gate electrode. Consequently, an unnecessary local potential barrier or well produced by a misalignment can be prevented, thereby increasing charge transfer efficiency.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and it is clearly understood that many variations are possible within the scope and spirit of the present invention by anyone skilled in the art. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A charge coupled device comprising:a transfer electrode portion having not more than a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a third gate electrode wherein said second gate electrode and said third gate electrode partially overlap said first gate electrode; a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under said first, second and third gate electrodes; a clock portion having a first clock terminal connected to said first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to said second gate electrode.
 2. The charge coupled device according to claim 1, further comprising first and second potential areas formed in said semiconductor substrate, wherein said first potential area is formed under said second gate electrode and wherein said second potential area is formed under said third gate electrode.
 3. The charge coupled device according to claim 2, wherein an end portion of said first potential area is substantially aligned with an end portion of said first gate electrode and the other end portion of said first potential area is aligned with a middle portion of said second gate electrode, and wherein an end portion of said second potential area is substantially aligned with the other end portion of said first gate electrode.
 4. The charge coupled device according to claim 3, wherein the size of said first potential area is the same as that of said second potential area.
 5. A charge coupled device comprising:a transfer electrode portion having not more than a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a third gate electrode; a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under said first to third gate electrodes, and having a first potential area formed in said semiconductor substrate under said second gate electrode and a second potential area formed in said semiconductor substrate under said third gate electrode; and a first clock terminal connected to said first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to said second gate electrode; wherein said second gate electrode has a first end overlapping a first end of said first gate electrode and a second end which is disposed between said charge transfer portion and at least part of a gate electrode of an adjacent group of first, second and third gate electrodes; and wherein said third gate electrode has a first end overlapping a second end of said first gate electrode.
 6. A charge coupled device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the size of said first potential area is the same as that of said second potential area.
 7. A charge coupled device as claimed in claim 6, wherein an end portion of said first potential area is aligned with an end portion of said first gate electrode and the other end portion of said first potential area is aligned with a middle portion of said second gate electrode, and the end portions of said second potential area are aligned with the other end portion of said first gate electrode and an end portion of a gate electrode in an adjacent group of first, second and third gate electrodes.
 8. A charge coupled device comprising:a transfer electrode portion having not more than a first gate electrode, a second gate electrode and a third gate electrode wherein said second gate electrode and said third gate electrode partially overlap said first gate electrode; a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under said first, second and third gate electrodes; a clock portion having a first clock terminal connected to said first and third gate electrodes, and a second clock terminal connected to said second gate electrode; and an insulating layer disposed between said transfer electrode portion and said charge transfer portion, wherein a first end portion of said second gate electrode partially overlaps said first gate electrode and wherein a second end portion of said second gate electrode contacts said insulating layer and wherein said third gate electrode partially overlaps said first gate electrode.
 9. A charge coupled device comprising:a transfer electrode portion having a plurality of groups of first, second and third gate electrodes, wherein in each of said groups a first end of said second gate electrode overlaps a first end of said first gate electrode, a first end of said third gate electrode overlaps a second end of said first gate electrode and a second end of said third gate electrode overlaps a second end of the second gate electrode in an adjacent group of first, second and third gate electrodes; a charge transfer portion located in a semiconductor substrate under said plurality of groups of first, second and third gate electrodes; first and second clock terminals connected to said transfer electrode portion; a plurality of first and second potential areas formed in said semiconductor substrate, wherein said first potential areas are formed under said second gate electrodes and wherein said second potential areas are formed under said third gate electrodes; and wherein in each of said groups an end portion of said first potential area is aligned with an end portion of said first gate electrode, and wherein the end portions of said second potential area are aligned with the other end portion of said first gate electrode and an end portion of the second gate electrode in an adjacent group of first, second and third gate electrodes.
 10. The charge coupled device according to claim 9, wherein said first clock terminal is connected to each of said first and third gate electrodes in said plurality of groups of first, second and third gate electrodes, and said second clock terminal is connected to each of said second gate electrodes in said plurality of groups of first, second and third gate electrodes.
 11. The charge coupled device according to claim 9, wherein the first gate electrodes in each group are shaped substantially the same, wherein the second gate electrodes in each group are shaped substantially the same and wherein the third gate electrodes in each group are shaped substantially the same. 